U.S. Win Two Track Gold

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30576, 20 October 1964, Page 20

U.S. Win Two Track Gold

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) TOKYO, October 19. Mike Larrabee, a 30-year-old United States university teacher, today won the 400 metres, one of the most open events of the Olympics, and his compatriot from Georgia, Miss Edith McGuire, captured the women’s 200 metres. Americans thus won two of the four gold medals at stake in the national stadium. Karin Balzer, aged 26, an East German, scored the combined German team’s first athletics win in the 80 metres hurdles, and Russia gained its

expected gold in the women’s discus, won by the world record-holder, Tamara Press. Italy won the team and individual sections of the equestrian three-day event and the cycling sprint championship. Pentti Linnoscupo, of Finland, took the rapid fire pistol shooting gold medal, and Japan, Jugoslavia, Turkey and Bulgaria shared the first four Greco-Roman wrestling gold medals to be decided. Larrabee’s long stride and powerful finishing carried him to victory in the 400 metres.

With 80 metres to go, Wendell Mottley (Trinidad) looked the probable winner, but he could not hold off the American, and was relegated to second place. Miss McGuire readily added the gold for the 200 metre* to the silver she won in the 100 metres earlier.

Quickly into the lead, she swept home in 23sec, holding off challenges from the silver medallist, Irena Kirszenstein (Poland) and the third-placed Marilyn Black (Australia). The first three all beat the Olympic record of 23.25ec.